1. Keep our kids in Michigan. The buzz about the young-adult brain-drain has built into a deafening roar at Mackinac. Solving the problem is a clear mandate from the "real" people here, and the elected leaders are struggling to come up with direct policy. But at least folks are aligned here.

2. The nation is pouring money into alt energy, and Michigan universities need a bigger piece of it. The presidents of the two biggest universities drove that point home, starting with a shared radio interview on Thursday morning - and the theme resonated through the day, as the crowd picked it up. There's nothing to lose on this one.

3. We're all ready for mass transit - at least in theory. Yeah, but how to pay for it? That's still up in the air. And it's a biggie. But rising gas prices are at least accomplishing one decent outcome: More and more of us can see ourselves riding a bus or train to work.

4. Stop yammering and tackle term limits. We hear anger here. It's time to bring a vote or stop talking about it.

5. Keep pretending Kwame Kilpatrick doesn't run Detroit. Unity: a big word here. Focus - that's another. "Fight distractions" - yet another goal. We've heard one or more from most people here. And we know who they're talking about.